People are my passion. In 2009 I began exploring photography as a creative outlet. What I learned is it brought me closer to people as individuals, and allowed me to portray them in situations, concepts, and stories that felt larger than life.

Specifically what I specialize in is Creative Portrait Artwork. Using my favorite tool, light, and pairing it with other fun stuff like intense colors, fashion inspired flare. smoke machines, glitter, vintage cameras, laser pointers, or random pieces of furniture. I create unique artistic portraits that make the subject feel larger than life.

I find my inspiration in long drives, abstract artwork, stories of tragedy, sleeping next to my wife, my best friend's children, the idea that "too much" is actually "just right", unbelievable tales, Eric Clapton, Jack White, intense colors, dramatic skies, and that place just between awake and asleep.

As a person I am very kind, confident, content, genuine, funny, INTENSE, and ready to talk. I am very happily married, devout about my faith, and obsessed with the camera's relationship with light. I love Eric Clapton, guitar solos, and almost anything that is over the top. And I respect honesty, passion, and love.

I am currently located in the Central Valley of California. I create Portrait Artwork on a commission basis. If you would like to set up a commission please contact me by email at adam@adamallenphotography.com and we will make an appointment for a consultation.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you are able to express your heart in someway today.

God Bless You,
-Adam Allen

Three light gel photo

I’ve recently seen a few album covers that were very simple in composition. Just the shoulders up and a backlight or two. So I decided to challenge myself and try it out. I’m not very good with multiple lights. I do great with one main light. But once multiple lights are involved I feel so lost.

But this time I was successful! And I’m really excited for it.

So I started out getting the main light right. Simply a large soft box just a little to camera right. Pointed very dramatically downward to git me a very deep shadow under my chin. To hide my very undefined jaw line. Also pulled myself a few feet from the background to keep it dark.

Next I added a light with a blue gel slightly behind me to camera left. I played with the setting till I found a brightness I liked. I changed my pose because I felt this stretched and flattered my neck better, as well as looked more interesting. I also added the sunglasses to add interest.

I fired up my smoke machine to give it an epic feel.

I then put up an additional light to camera right, slightly behind me with a pink gel. I raised both lights to be above my head and pointed them down.

I felt a plain t-shirt was too simple so I grabbed a jacket, despite it being very very warm in my garage.

Finally I did some post work to add contrast, fix blemishes, slim my cheeks, add font, and stretch the canvas to place me better in the third.

And that’s it. It was pretty fun and got me started into multiple lights.

Thank you for letting me share with you. I hope you express your heart in some way today.